Complete Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Preview

Kyle J. RodriguezJul 31, 2015

On Saturday, August 1, the Indianapolis Colts' rookies report to camp in Anderson, Indiana.

It's time for the Colts to begin the 2015 NFL season, preparing for what the franchise hopes will be a special run. The Colts have spent a chunk of money on big-name veterans in the offseason and hope that their key players can put together one more run before their contracts balloon in 2016 and beyond.

The journey to a Super Bowl starts in August .

As the Colts head into training camp, what big questions, battles and goals do the Colts have? Which players should we be watching most closely during training camp? Which players project as the most important for the Colts' season?

We'll answer all of those questions and more in this year's training camp preview.

Burning Questions for Colts Training Camp

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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Where Does Andrew Luck Go From Here?

The Colts' superstar quarterback took a giant leap forward in 2014, increasing his passing volume by a notable amount while maintaining high levels of efficiency. Not only did Luck lead the league in passing touchdowns and finish third in total passing yards, but he finished fifth in adjusted net yards per attempt as well.

For many, this was all part of Luck's expected ascension into the upper echelon of quarterbacks. He once again carried a very flawed Colts roster to a playoff win, then won a second playoff game to reach the AFC Championship Game. Though the Colts' season ended with a very disappointing game in New England, Luck carrying the team that far in and of itself was very impressive.

So what can we expect Luck to do next? Improvement is key, especially with an upgraded offensive roster that now includes two future Hall of Fame skill players and a brand-new first-round pick in the receiving corps. It's been a wild ride over the last three years, and we can't wait to see what Luck does next.

How Much Can Veterans Add in 2015?

The Colts added a handful of key veterans in free agency this offseason, which is nothing new for the Ryan Grigson era Colts. But instead of signing young, mediocre players coming off their rookie contracts, the Colts this time aimed for older, more proven veterans on shorter contracts.

Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, Trent Cole and Todd Herremans all joined the Colts' quest for a Lombardi Trophy, and all four should start right away in Indianapolis. But how much do these players have left?

Gore is the youngest at 32 years old, but plays the league's most fragile position. Cole and Herremans both turn 33 in October, and Johnson is already 34 and coming off of the worst season of his career.

But at the same time, Gore is an ironman who has continually fought off age. Johnson is the same age as Reggie Wayne was before joining Andrew Luck. Both players are entering much better offensive situations than what they've seen over the last 10 years. And while Cole has regressed, he still finished last year with a positive-11.3 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus.

Herremans is the one veteran that is a significant risk. He racked up a negative-12.5 grade from Pro Football Focus in just nine weeks last season in an offensive system that has produced very high offensive line grades in the past. Still, Herremans played well in the years prior, and his play may simply be tied to better health.

Which Sophomore Will Step Up?

Everybody wants to know which rookies are going to be the next superstars, and they'll draw significant attention during training camp.

But a rookie's impact is usually negligible.

That's not to say it's not important for many teams, but the bigger impacts come in Year 2 and beyond.

So what I'm more interested in is which promising rookie from the 2014 class will step up into a more prominent role in 2015? Will it be Jack Mewhort, Donte Moncrief, Jonathan Newsome or Jonotthan Harrison?

Mewhort has been forced into the starting right tackle role with the Colts releasing Gosder Cherilus earlier this week. It's a great opportunity for Mewhort, and a chance for the Colts to have a pair of solid bookend tackles with him and Anthony Castonzo. However, it's also added pressure to perform at a more difficult position. Mewhort's lone start at right tackle last season was a bit of an adventure.

There isn't quite as defined of a role for Moncrief or Newsome, which is why training camp will be so critical for both. Both have notable veteran starters ahead of them on the depth chart and will be battling with key young players for rotational roles.

Harrison will be subjected to a training camp battle as well, this one for a starting job as the Colts center. The undrafted free agent flashed talent last season, but had a few too many mental miscues and was replaced by Khaled Holmes. If he can focus and minimize the mental mistakes, he could have an enormous opportunity.

Has the Defense Improved?

The Colts defense has been decimated by the New England Patriots and their rushing attack in each of the last two season-ending playoff losses, and the ability for the Colts to make a playoff run depends on their ability to hold their own.

That doesn't mean the Colts can't win a Super Bowl without having a dominant defense, but they can't get run over like they have in the past. Allowing nearly 50 points in a playoff game is not a recipe for success, even if the offense is better equipped for shootouts this season.

The biggest key will be improving the pass rush, which was abysmal at times last season, accounting for just three sacks in the team's six losses (including the playoffs). The addition of Trent Cole and recovery of Robert Mathis is critical here, as Newsome is the only other promising pass-rushing prospect.

The team also hopes to get more consistent play from its inside linebackers. Jerrell Freeman was injured for most of last season, and it severely affected his play. The team also signed Nate Irving out of Denver to compete with D'Qwell Jackson for the run-stopper role.

Top Training Camp Battles

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Left Guard: Hugh Thornton vs. Lance Louis vs. The Field

With Jack Mewhort moved to right tackle in lieu of Gosder Cherilus' release, the battle for left guard is one that could have major ramifications for the season. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo's play often depends on who is next to him, so the wrong choice here could cripple the Colts line for 2015.

It may be Hugh Thornton's final chance to prove he can be a long-term starting lineman in the NFL, making it critical for him to beat out an aging Lance Louis.

But Joe Reitz is a wild card here. He's usually the best partner for Castonzo and has had much success in the past. However, the Colts like him as a utility lineman and may want to keep him fresh as a fill-in in case of injury.

Center: Jonotthan Harrison vs. Khaled Holmes

Another year, another camp battle at center.

While the two players are more complicated than this, the basic rundown is that Harrison is more physically talented while Holmes has a better grasp on the mental side. Unfortunately, that means each players' weakness is just as glaring.

No matter who wins the spot, the quicker it's decided, the better. The Colts line was a revolving door last season, and the inconsistency hurt its play.

Wide Receiver: Phillip Dorsett vs. Donte Moncrief

The battle for the third wide receiver role may not necessarily need to be decided in camp, but it will draw a lot of attention either way.

Donte Moncrief was impressive as a rookie, and he deserves to be mentioned with the other ascending names from the historic 2014 wide receiver class. But he simply won't have as many opportunities as some of those other players with the Colts signing Andre Johnson to come in and start.

Now Phillip Dorsett comes in as a first-round rookie, threatening to take even more playing time from Moncrief. But Dorsett is promising too, with blazing speed and sure hands. Both players deserve to get chances on the field, but which will emerge as the more consistent third option?

Defensive End: Kendall Langford vs. Henry Anderson

Former Stanford defensive lineman Henry Anderson was easily the Colts' most-praised pick of the 2015 draft, powered by gushing praise from Pro Football Focus' analysts leading up to and on draft day.

If he plays like he did in college, Anderson will be a disruptive force on the defensive line that the Colts haven't had since switching to a 3-4 defense, but he won't be handed a starting job. The Colts signed Kendall Langford to a significant four-year, $17 million contract in the offseason, and he should have the edge to start right away.

But if Anderson is the player that he's been hyped up to be, he'll be hard to keep off the field.

Outside Linebacker: Jonathan Newsome vs. Bjoern Werner vs. Erik Walden

Trent Cole and Robert Mathis are the big names at outside linebacker, and, if healthy, are the most accomplished and most talented pass-rushers on the roster.

But the depth behind the two is critical for 2015, both because of age as the Colts try to limit snaps and because of potential injury (especially as Mathis still hasn't recovered from last season's Achilles tear).

Jonathan Newsome is the most promising pass-rushing talent behind them, but Erik Walden and Bjoern Werner are the better run-stoppers. As the young players of the unit, it's crucial for both Werner and Newsome to carve out defined roles, but Walden isn't rolling over either. He was arguably the Colts' most effective front-seven player last season.

Safety: Dwight Lowery vs. Clayton Geathers

Like the battle on the defensive line, this comes down to potential versus an inconsistent veteran.

Clayton Geathers is a hard-hitting safety out of Central Florida, and the Colts hope he can be the long-term asset at safety that the team has been lacking for years. But the Colts signed Dwight Lowery to a one-year deal this offseason, and he's been a dependable starter when healthy in other places.

Geathers should find a role as a situational player in training camp, but can he do more and unseat Lowery as the starter?

Most Important Players for the 2015 Indianapolis Colts

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1. QB Andrew Luck

The Colts will go as far as Luck takes them; it's that simple.

2. CB Vontae Davis

The Colts' most indispensable defensive piece. Watch the collapse against Pittsburgh last season to remember what happens with Davis out.

3. OLB Robert Mathis/Trent Cole

Pass rush is critical for Indianapolis. The team doesn't need both players to play at their peak levels this season, but at least one of them needs to be a serious threat to the quarterback.

4. OT Anthony Castonzo

The Colts offensive line is a mess. Castonzo is the stabilizing force on Luck's blind side. The team desperately needs him to continue his underrated play.

5. DT Arthur Jones

The Colts signed Jones to a five-year, $33 million contract last season, and he disappointed majorly in 2014. He'll step into a bigger role this year with Cory Redding and Ricky Jean Francois gone, and he must be the player the Colts paid for.

6. OLB Jonathan Newsome

As stated above, pass rush is critical for the Colts defense. Newsome has a chance to be the team's best pass-rusher.

7. WR T.Y. Hilton

Hilton deserves to be higher on this list given how important he's been to the offense in recent years, but the Colts' additions to the receiving corps pushes him down just a bit. If he does get dinged up again this year, the offense is better equipped to deal with it.

8. ILB Jerrell Freeman

The former CFL player showed a lot of promise in his first two seasons in Indianapolis. He was hampered by injury in 2014, but he still can be an impactful player in the middle of the defense. When he plays well, the Colts are at their best (see the Cincinnati and Denver playoff games).

9. RB Frank Gore

The Colts don't need to become a San Francisco-like running team to succeed offensively, but bringing in this 49ers product should help the offensive balance and efficiency in 2015. It's a big upgrade from Trent Richardson, provided he can stay on the field.

10. WR Andre Johnson

A big reason the Colts offense stuttered down the stretch last season was the decline of Reggie Wayne. The Colts don't have any other viable possession receivers, although Hilton has improved in this area immensely. Johnson is key to the Colts punishing defenses for dropping back over the top to protect against the long ball.

Honorable Mention: TE Dwayne Allen, DE Henry Anderson, S Mike Adams, WR Phillip Dorsett

Top Team Goals for Training Camp

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Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Figure Out the Offensive Identity

With all of the changes in offensive personnel this offseason, offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has a big task ahead of him for the 2015 training camp. The Colts' offensive identity took a big step in 2014, but this season's roster is much different.

The Colts want to be more balanced with Frank Gore in the building, but the offensive line still isn't very powerful and the team should still be pass-first. Luck and the weapons in the passing game can't simply be complementary pieces. The Colts opened up the offense with great success last year, now they're just looking for more efficiency.

Work on Third-Down and Red-Zone Woes

For all of the Colts' offensive success last season, the team's situational play continued to lag behind.

The Colts finished 13th in third-down conversion percentage last season after finishing 15th in 2013. In the red zone, the Colts scored a touchdown 55 percent of the time, ranking 12th in 2014. The team ranked 10th in 2013, scoring a touchdown just under 57 percent of the time, per TeamRankings.com.

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#Colts Pagano: 3rd down, red zone, turnovers targets for improvement for Luck and entire team.
— Conrad Brunner (@1070Bruno) June 9, 2015"

Identify and Feature Defensive Playmakers

Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky has another big task ahead of him in 2015. The Colts' defensive roster has yet to emerge as a strength for the team, but there are some more interesting pieces in this year's version.

The task for Manusky will be simple, but a difficult task to be sure. The team desperately needs playmakers to step up. The problem with the defense in years past has been a lack of playmakers amid a host of average players. It's led to a defense that has been very inconsistent and struggled against top offenses.

So Manusky's job is to identify which Colts could be playmakers in 2015 and feature them in ways that best utilize those talents. Can Henry Anderson be effective as a starter, or is he going to perform best in a rotational role? What kind of rotation is best for the pass-rushers? Where do the rookie defensive backs fit?

Stay Healthy

As always for Indianapolis, the key is to stay healthy. The team has annually been one of the most injured teams in the league, with players like Donald Thomas and Vick Ballard being lost for the season in training camp last year.

Can the Colts buck the rash of injuries they've been forced to deal with in recent years, or is it just an inevitability they must prepare to deal with?

Are the Coaches on the Hot Seat?

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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Despite reaching the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and progressing further each year, there has been some chatter that head coach Chuck Pagano may be on the hot seat in 2015.

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Is Chuck Pagano on the hot seat? @PSchrags & @kirkmorrison discuss the Colts expectations via @AmericasPregame http://t.co/uv21DuojHX
— FOX Sports 1 (@FOXSports1) July 20, 2015"

Pagano's contract was not extended this past offseason, and it seems that the Colts want him to prove he can take the Colts to true Super Bowl contention before ponying up a big extension. It's not that Pagano isn't appreciated in Indianapolis, but it's a question of how much he's worth.

According to Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN, Pagano was offered a one-year contract at a modest raise, but he turned it down, likely seeking a longer contract with a bigger paycheck. Pagano is betting on himself in this case, while the Colts want to see a more competitive end to the season before giving him a top contract.

Pagano is currently making $4.5 million per year, just under the $4.9 million average for NFL coaches, according to CoachesHotSeat.com. If successful in 2015, it wouldn't be surprising for Pagano to aim for more than $6 million per year, which is what Andy Reid, Mike McCarthy and Mike Tomlin currently make.

But first comes this season. Pagano and his staff made strides in how the team was coached last year, most often putting its personnel in the best places to succeed on both sides of the ball. But in big games, the team was woefully outcoached, a fact that was apparent to all.

For a Super Bowl run to occur, Pagano and his staff will need better in-game adjustments and pregame preparation for those big games. Pagano doesn't have to outcoach Bill Belichick to beat the Patriots, but he can't get steamrolled.